Being a politician offers an unparalleled opportunity to be close to a multiplicity of communities, at all moments - problematic times, grief, celebration and anything in between. So, when seen from this particular lens, though they take up a great deal of energy, visiting and being part of our colourful festa celebrations, is a privilege.

Our festas have developed immensely from what we are told their ancestral versions were. In fact, a quick trip to Sicily where we got them from, and where we are told their versions have remained more consistent to tradition, shows this. Indeed, this shows that our festas are live traditions that still attract thousands of creative enthusiasts who are motivated to keeping them alive and interesting.

Naturally I am bound to be drawn a little more towards the musical and artistic side of things, given my background, and I cannot but appreciate the immense work carried out by hundreds of volunteers in this field.

We often fail to appreciate that in our tiny Malta and Gozo, we essentially have a small, free music school, in each town and village - in certain cases we have two! I am of course referring to our Kazini tal-Banda, which offer free musical tuition to their aljevi, or students, even lending them the musical instrument to practice on, with the promise of playing with the band once they master the craft.

This age-old system has worked beautifully, giving us some of the finest musicians our country has ever known. So, it is extremely unfair when we say that our band clubs are just places for beer and shady behaviour.

Furthermore, our festi are a showcase of some of the finest art our country has to offer. We all know that for many centuries the Church was the foremost patron of the arts in Malta, commissioning amazing artworks in silver, paintings and music. These are out in their full glory at festa time - a veritable feast for the eyes. And this makes perfect sense, as for many years, the church served as a social club, a theatre if you will, for those who couldn't afford to go to the actual theatre or attend a real social club themselves.

So, it is no wonder that at festa time we are regaled with amazing antiphons and other sacred music which are so reminiscent of their contemporary Opera lirica, while enjoying some of the most breath-taking baroque masterpieces available on the island. 

Venturing out of the church at festa time, is an experience in itself. The entire town explodes in a colourful frenzy of decoration which is only matched by the enthusiasm and joy of those responsible for it.

Because this is the most important week of the year for many, who dedicate their lives to their festa. Together with Christmas and Holy Week, it is the purpose that keeps entire communities gelling together, and a sense of identity alive. Sure, sometimes we go overboard, and overdo the celebrations, but we must be very careful when we speak ill of our festi, for I fear, they are some of the last few remaining elements that are giving purpose to entire communities. Without them, our crumbling sense of togetherness in an increasingly individualistic society is ever more threatened.

I feel that now that our festi are recognised as intangible heritage by UNESCO, we are burdened with even more responsibility to protecting them, just like we did the temples. Our festi too need their own kind of canopy to protect them from the elements - albeit, in this case, they might be slightly more challenging to identify and provide.

Ultimately, as politicians, it is our duty to protect that which our people love and bring them together. Ensuring that there is a healthy handing over to the next generation.

I wish all the very best to all those who are currently celebrating, or will be celebrating their feast soon - while thanking those who have already done so this year. You make us proud.

Julie Zahra is the Opposition's Shadow Minister for Cultural Heritage, Arts, and Culture